Automobile steering knee control



April 26, 1927.

J. H. cREsMER AUTOMOBILE STEERING KNEE GCNTROI.;

Filed Feb, 11

ysteering wheels..

Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

errno ST f l @,@Ziggf AUTOMBILE STEERING KNEE CNTROL.

Application filed February 11, 1926; Serial No. 87,592.

vThis invention relates to improvements in devices for controlling andturning. vehicle invention is to provide an improved device, which canbe attached to a vehicle steering wheel which will enable the driver tohold the steering wheel stationary or to turn it by his knee, so that itis possible for him to temporarily use his hands for other purposes. f

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved vehiclesteering wheel control whichI is ofy improved construction, havingseveral adjustments, and which may be easily constructed and applied tothe steering wheel.

A further object of this invention 1s to provide a device lofthecharacter above referred to, which can be collapsed or swung into aninoperative position, and which is quite out of the way when not in use.

With the vforegoing and other obJects in An object of this I view whichwill be made manifest in the following detailed description andspecifically pointed out in the appended claims,

reference Vis had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrativeembodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view villustrating the improved device in appliedposition thereon, the .arm being swung into collapsed or inoperativeposition, n v

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, y y

Fig. 3 may be considered as a horizontal section taken `upon the` line3-3 of Fig. 2 in the direction indicated,

Fig. 4 is a sectional View line 4-4 of Fig. l, Y

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a partialview in side elevation illustrating the manner inwhich the device is used, and

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig.4.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, the improved steeringknee control consists of an arcuate, inverted channel-shaped member 10,preferably formed of sheet metal and which has metallic attaching straps11 provided at its ends for attaching the device to the spokes S of thesteering wheel W of a vehicle. The top of the inverted channel-shapedmember taken upon `the lOhas a plurality of apertures 12 formed in it,which are equally spaced apart, and V and into the bracket 13 sov as tosecure the bracket adjustably tothe member 10.` As l' these screws arereceivable in any of the apertures 12, it will be readily understoodthat it is possible to adjust the position of the bracket 13circumferentially kto the axis of the steering wheel along the member10.

An arm, generally designated at 15, consists of two channel-shapedparts, one of `which is indicated at 16, and is hingedly connected tothe bracket 13 as yby ya pin 17-` The pin 17 extends through thedepending flanges at the sides of the part .16 and is also partiallyenclosed by a curled portion Lof the top ofthe part 16..l The endslofthe depending flanges on the part 16 are formed to providestopsengageable upon the-,top of i the bracket 13, as clearlyillustrated in Fig."

7, to limit the downwardV swinging moveq ment of the arm 15.

The other part of the arm 15 is indicated at 19 and is slidable overthepart 16. lt has two divergent fingers 20, between which may bepositioned the lower limb or knee of the driver ofthe vehicle. The part19 has a slot therein indicatediat 21 and a bolt 22 extends Ythroughthis slot andv .through the member 16. The bolt is tightened as bya wingnut 23, and, when loosened, it enables the part 19 to be adjustedrelatively to the part 16. in one end thereof throughwhich the bolt 22extends, andthe other: end of the leaf spring is bent vupwardly as at 25and( outwardly as at 26. This leaf springis held A leaf spring 24 has anaperture in place against the undervside ofthe part fj l 16 by the wingnut 23. As'clearly shown in Fig. 2, the arm 15y can assume a positionapproximately in the plane of the steering wheelW beneath the spokes S.It is maintained in such position because'of theengagement between thefree end of the'spring 24 with the lower edge of one of the dependingflanges of the inverted channel-shaped member 10. By swinging the arm 15downwardly, the spring 24 will ride over this edge and will allow thearmto assume a position as shown in Fig. `6 with the upward-` ly bentportion 25 of the spring 24 engaging upon the top of the member 10,rlocking the member in the position shown. When the y arm is so locked,the driver may place his knee .between the fingers 120' and thus keepthe steering wheel stationary, or the wheel can be turned slightly ybyhis knee While lie is using his hands for other purposes.

F rom the above described construction it will be readily appreciatedthat they iinproved steering wheel yknee control can be easily, quicklyand cheaply manufactured and can be very -easi-'ly applied. Further-:moieyr it can vbe swung into operative and inoperative positions, andlwhen it is in an inoperative position, it is completely out of thexway. The purpose of providing Vtor the adjustment of the bracket 13Aalong'the member 10 lis for the reasontliat the position of the spokesoi thesteeri'ng wheel,

when the vehicle is movin-g straight orf wardly, may vary on differentvehicles. rthe Aadjustment oil the arm l5 enables the fingers 2O to beengaged by the 'knee Aof various drivers.

it will be understood that variouscha-nges in the detail of constructionmay be made without departing 'from the spirit or scope oli theinventionfas defined by Vthe appended claims.

I claim: l. A device of the class described vcomprising a member havingattaching parts at its ends permitting 'it to be attached tothe spokesoi' a steering wheel, any arm l'ringedly and adjustablyeonnected to said`member so as to be capable oi being swung down- `vvardly into aposition capab-le of being engaged by the lower limbs of the driver.orto be swung upwardly into a position adjacent they spokes7 and meansfor posi-r tively lockingl said arm in either of said po sitions.

f2.: A devicer or the class described coml prising ,an arcuate memberhaving attaching partsat its ends providing VJfor attachment to thespoke-sof a steering wheel, a bracket secured to said member, mea-ns forsecuring said 'bracket to said member providing for its adjustment'circumferentially along the member, and an arm secured to saidbracketcapable .of being engaged by the lower Vv.limbs of the driver.

3. A device of the class described comprising an arcuate ,member havingattaching parts at its endsyprovidi-ng for attachment to the spokes of asteering Wheel, a bracket secured to said member, means forsecuring saidbracket to said member providing for its adjnstiiient,circuinterentiallyalong the member and an arm hingedly lsecured to said bracketffea-pablevof `being swung i downwardly into a position whereby it is capable ot'.being engaged iby .the :knee'of the driver orrori being swung.iiipivard'ly into a position adjacent the spokes ofthe steering wheel.f Y 1 y e. A .device Lof the. classv described coinprising 'van arcuatemember having attaching parts at its ends providing `for attachment tothe spokes ot a steering wheel, a `bracket secured tosaid member,meanstor securing said bracket to said member Vproviding for itsadjustment along-the member, .an arm pri-sing an arcuate inem-berliaving'attaching y parts at its ends providing for attachment to thespokes of a steeringrw-heel, va lbracket secured to said member., meansiorsecuring said bracket to said member providing for its adjustmentalong the .membeig air-arm hingedly secured to said bracket capable ofbeing swung downwardly into a position whereby it is capable of beingengaged by the knee of thedriver or of beingswung upwardly yinto aposition adjacent the spokes of the steering wheel, a leaf rspringsecured -to said arm engageable upon said member urging said arm fintoeither of* the -mentioned posit-ions, and means associated with saidspring for locking said yarm in either 'i of said positions. Y

In testimony whereofl 'I have'signed vmy name to this specification. f

JfoHN H. 'cniisM-iin.

